With this article, the Beau Monde brings to a close its year-long celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the Regency romance novel, the very first of which, Regency Buck, was written by Georgette Heyer and published in 1935. Yet today’s final article in this series is about a book which is neither a Regency nor a romance, My Lord John. Nevertheless, this book was very close to Georgette Heyer’s heart. Kalinya Parker-Pryce, historical romance author, explains why this book was so important to Heyer and where it stands in her body of work. She also provides some good advice for readers who are coming to this book for the first time. Advice that will enable them to get the most out of this tale in which Heyer invested so much of herself.

As always, please feel free to share your views about this book, historical romance and/or Georgette Heyer, in comments to this article.

As this year draws to a close, the Beau Monde comes to the end of our celebration of the eightieth anniversary of Georgette Heyer’s founding of the Regency romance sub-genre. Today, romance author, Kalinya Parker-Pryce, shares her views of, and her history with, this last of Heyer’s Regency romances, Lady of Quality. Among other things, Kalinya compares and contrasts the hero of Heyer’s final romance novel with the hero of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy. Though Austen lived and wrote during the Regency, and Heyer, who lived in the twentieth century, did a great deal of research to re-create that world, how do you think these two heroes compare?

Everyone is welcome to post their views on this novel, and/or Regency romances in general, in comments to this article.

Pistols for Two is the only anthology of short stories which was ever published by Georgette Heyer. A special treat for those of us who love the Regency era, all the short stories in this anthology are set in that decade. Today, Regency romance author, Victoria Hinshaw, gives us a glimpse of some of the stories in this Regency anthology. And, Victoria also offers us some advice on how best to prolong our enjoyment of this volume of romantic bijoux. Would you pace yourself or devour all the stories at once?

Please feel free to share your ideas about this anthology and historical romance in general in comments to this article.

Regency romance author, Mary Moore, freely admits that Charity Girl is not one of her favorites among Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels. Nevertheless, today she gives this book its due, comparing and contrasting it to some of Heyer’s other Regency romances. And even admits to a sigh when she came to the end of the story. In addition, for all of you Regency aficionados who particularly enjoy the colorful language of that era, Mary shares some of the delectable phrases which Heyer sprinkled through Charity Girl.

Do you have a favorite Regency cant term? Please feel free to share it in a comment to this article.

Royal Escape stands alone in Georgette Heyer’s oeuvre, since it is the only novel she wrote which is set in the Cromwellian period and focuses on England’s Civil War. Today, Alicia Quigley, reader and writer of romance novels, shares her views on this unique Heyer story. The hero of this tale is the dashing and charming young Charles II. Though Alicia tells us there are no traditional romantic elements in this novel, might there be some non-traditional ones? The hero is certainly the gallant and irresistible young prince, but is the heroine, the woman who cares for him, the author of this book or the reader?

All visitors are welcome to share their ideas about this story and historical novels, romantic or otherwise, in comments to this article.

There are at least a few of Georgette Heyer’s readers who have found her novel, Cousin Kate, something of an anomaly within her oeuvre. In today’s article, best-selling author, Heather Hiestand, explores what makes this novel unique among Heyer’s Regency romances. In fact, do you think this novel qualifies as a romance? And, would you use the same abbreviation to label the heroine as Heather has applied to her?

Whether you have views on Cousin Kate or the Regency genre in general, please feel free to post them in comments to this article.

Georgette Heyer’s second Medieval novel is The Conqueror. However, unlike her first Medieval, Simon the Coldheart, this story is not about a fictional character. It is about a real character from history, William, Duke of Normandy, the only man ever to conquer Britain. Today, romance author, Regan Walker, gives us some insights into this historical novel which is populated with a host of real characters from Medieval European history. Though Regan finds the romance between the main characters sadly lacking, she does share with us that a pair of secondary characters do find true love in this book. Do you prefer historical novels populated only with fictional characters, or do you like a few real historical figures thrown into the mix?

All are welcome to post their views on this novel, or historical romance in general, in comments to this article.

We have a very special treat in store for us today. Romance author, Cara King, has invited along her particular friend to discuss Black Sheep, one of her favorites among Georgette Heyer’s Regencies. Cara and her friend, Bertie, have rather different views on the characters and the setting of this story. They even differ on whether this tale is a romance richly laced with humor or a dismal tragedy. As you read through the transcript of their conversation, you will have to decide which of them best understands Black Sheep.

Dear Readers, please do favor Cara with answers to her questions in comments to this article.

Though Georgette Heyer wrote dozens of historical novels, she only wrote one set in the Elizabethan period. Today, Regency romance author, Mary Moore, tells us why she enjoyed this novel, even though it is not set in our favorite period. In addition, she explains why this novel is unlikely to meet most publishers’ criteria for a romance in the twenty-first century. And yet, she found it quite the page-turner. Have you read Beauvallet? If so, do you agree with Mary? If you have not read it, will you now put it on your list of Heyer’s novels which must be read?

Everyone is welcome to share their views on Beauvallet, or any aspect of historical romance, in comments to this article.

Frederica is one of a handful of Regencies which Georgette Heyer titled with the heroine’s first name. In today’s article, historical romance novelist, Miranda Neville, gives us some tantalizing glimpses into both the humor and romance of the story, combined as only Heyer could. What is your view with regard to Frederica’s late recognition of her love for Alverstoke? Do you consider it a flaw in the story, or the typical response of a young woman of her time and station in life?

All visitors are welcome to share their opinions on Regency romance, or Frederica in particular, in comments to this article.

False Colours is almost certainly the first switched twin story set in Regency England, since it was written by Georgette Heyer, the originator of the Regency romance genre. Today, Regency romance author and reader, Alicia Quigley, shares her memories of reading this story for the first time. She also gives us a glimpse of some of the more interesting characters who play a part in this tale of missing relatives, spendthrift parents and outlandish family friends who complicate the budding romance between the hero and the heroine. In addition, Alicia notes the plethora of Regency cultural information which is to be found in this book. Like Alicia, do you learn new details of the Regency when you read the novels of Georgette Heyer?

All are welcome to post their views on this story, or Regency romances in general, in comments to this article.

Over the course of her career, Georgette Heyer wrote only three novels set in medieval times. Simon the Coldheart was the first. In today’s article, romance author, Becca St. John, explains why it is unlikely any romance publisher today would accept this as a new manuscript. But she also shares with us some of the things which attracted her to this story of a strong, determined and honorable man who does seem to have a cold heart. Until he meets an equally "cold" woman who makes the sparks fly between them. Once you have read Becca’s article, will Simon the Coldheart go on your list of must-read Heyers?

All are welcome to share their views on this novel, or the historical romance genre in general, in comments to this article.

Best-selling Regency author, Kate Pearce, and her mystery-writing alter ego, Catherine Lloyd, have something in common with Georgette Heyer, whose creation of the Regency romance we are celebrating this year. Like Kate/Catherine, Heyer wrote mysteries as well as romance novels. She even wrote some Regencies which incorporated a mystery. In today’s article, Kate shares her views on The Nonesuch, one of Heyer’s Regencies which begin in London, but then sweeps us off to a remote country village, peopled with a host of fascinating characters. It must be noted that the only mystery in The Nonesuch is what Sir Waldo is going to do with the property he inherited, but this novel is one of Heyer’s best-loved Regencies.

Everyone is welcome to share their views on the Regency romance genre, or this novel in particular, in comments to this post.

Today, award-winning Regency romance author, Julia Justiss, tells us about her very favorite Georgette Heyer novel, A Civil Contract. This is a very delicate love story, one which a modern reader might not fully appreciate on first reading. But once you are prepared with Julia’s insights into this romance, you should find it just as delightful as she does. So, can a plain, shy young lady find true love with a handsome viscount?

All are welcome to share their thoughts on this story, or Regencies in general, in comments to this post.

Today, romance author, Andrea K. Stein, enlightens us on what may be Georgette Heyer’s most obscure historical novel, The Great Roxhythe. It is unlikely that many reading this article have ever read this book, for reasons which Andrea will explain. It has been included in Beau Monde’s Regency Turns 80 celebration of Heyer’s work, though sorely it stretches the definition of a romance, as Andrea also explains. Nevertheless, it is one of Heyer’s historical novels, and in the interest of completeness, it deserves our attention.

Whether or not you have read this novel, you are welcome to post your comments to this article.

Did you know that Georgette Heyer’s Regency novel, The Unknown Ajax has a Shakespearian connection? In today’s article, award-winning Regency romance author, Sheri Cobb South, explains the connection. She also explains why she is particularly fond of this particular story. In addition, she shares her memories as an avid reader of Georgette Heyer in quest of more of her books.

Please feel free to share your views on this book or on Regencies in general in comments to this post.

Georgette Heyer, whom the Beau Monde is celebrating this year as the "founding mother" of the historical romance genre and the Regency romance sub-genre, was born on Saturday, 16 August 1902. That makes today her one hundred-and-thirteenth birthday. We could not let this momentous occasion pass without marking it with a salute to the author who has given us so many entertaining stories as well as paving the way for all of us who love to write historical romance, especially Regencies.

All visitors are welcome to post their own tributes and birthday greetings to Georgette Heyer in comments to this article.

As Regency romance author, Louisa Cornell, explains in today’s article, at its heart, Venetia, one of Georgette Heyer’s most beloved Regencies, is all about love. True love between two strong, honest people who understand and accept each other for who they are, faults and all. A bad boy hero who, for the first time in his life, will do anything for the woman he has come to love and a strong but caring woman who will not accept his sacrifice at the cost of their mutual happiness. Though it is set in the Regency and was published in 1958, Venetia has all the romance and humor to delight a twenty-first-century reader. And talking about bad boys, how do you think Jasper Damerel stacks up against some of the other heroes Louisa mentions?

All visitors are welcome to share their views on the Regency romance genre in general, or this novel in particular, in comments to this article.

It turns out that romance author, Barbara Bettis, has been a champion of the work of Georgette Heyer since her college days. Barbara is also a teacher of English and in today’s article, she shares her insights into what makes Heyer’s novels so enjoyable, even in this new century, despite the fact that the Regency genre has changed significantly since Heyer’s books were first published. Whether you are just discovering the work of Georgette Heyer, or if you have enjoyed her books for years, you will better understand the differences between her Regencies and those written in the twenty-first century once you have read Barbara’s article about Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle.

Visitors are invited to share their views on this romance novel, or the Regency genre in general, in comments to this article.

Though it is one of Georgette Heyer’s Georgian novels, The Talisman Ring is an engaging and humorous romp like many of her Regencies. In today’s article, Regency romance author, Judith Laik, shares with us the sudden insights which came to her when she recently re-read this romance which involves smugglers, swash-buckling and two pairs of lovers who take a bit of time to sort out who belongs with who. Do you agree with her take on the pairs of ladies in several of Heyer’s novels?

All comments on the Regency genre and this book are welcome. Please feel free to share your views.

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